The Innovator: Video Profile of Nike Shoe Designer Mike Friton

Tristan Stoch of Portland, Oregon-based video production company Cineastas recently sent us his latest work, a profile of shoe design veteran Mike Friton. A former track and field athlete with over 30 years of work at Nike to his name, Friton established himself with some of the earliest performance footwear to come from the Beaverton brand, and he continues to innovate as a freelance designer, renowned for his ultraminimal running shoe designs. (His design philosophy is echoed in his web presence: he has no portfolio to speak of, though a quick search turned up a 2011 review of a shoe Friton designed for Soft Star, noting that he was also the brains behind the original Nike Free.)

Besides designing and crafting shoes—Friton is "responsible for many elements of athletic footwear that people wear today"—he's also picked up weaving and paper sculpting in his effort to "explore the fringes of his field." Check it out:

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Formerly an editor and currently a contributor to Core77 (among other publications), Ray brings a broad interest in popular culture, media, and technology — alongside an abiding passion for art, music, and cycling — to his practice as a journalist and critic.

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